Central Illinois’ famous: John Schlitt, Grammy winner

Saturday

Feb 22, 2014 at 10:12 PM

By Dan NaumovichCorrespondent

John Schlitt first realized that he had a gift for music when he was the only boy in his kindergarten class to earn the highest grade in music class. Suspicions were confirmed when he continued to get selected for lead parts during school musical productions at his school.

“At the time that didn’t mean a whole lot to me. But after I started picking up guitar, and nobody else in the band would sing, I said ‘Fine, I’ll sing,’ and that’s when I realized it could mean something,” Schlitt said.

Schlitt’s soaring vocals came to regional prominence in 1975 with the release of Head East’s biggest hit, “Never Been Any Reason,” a song that remains a staple on classic rock radio. Then he rose to international fame when he took over lead vocal duties for Petra, the pioneering Christian rock band.

Today, Schlitt makes his home in Nashville, Tenn., but he looks back to his days growing up in Mount Pulaski as very influential, especially during a pivotal period in his life.

“The farm belt is a little bit like the Bible Belt, which is very important to me. I didn’t know that at the time, but later on I realized that it was very important,” he said.

Religion wasn’t a big part of Schlitt’s life until he left Head East, having fallen victim to many of the demons that pervade the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. At his lowest point, he turned to Christianity and sought to lead a more traditional life away from the stage.

Before joining Head East in 1973, Schlitt earned a degree in engineering from the University of Illinois, so he had career opportunities to fall back on.

“I thought that sooner or later the music would pass me by and I’d end up being a civil engineer. My dad was a mechanical engineer and I just thought that was the way you did it. But what’s funny, the doors just never completely shut when it came to music,” he said.

During the five years he spent living what he called an “ordinary life,” Schlitt never could shake the feeling that he should be doing something with his musical gifts. Then another door opened up in 1986.

Bob Hartman, one of the founding members of Petra, had heard that Schlitt had turned to Christianity and approached him about joining the band.

Schlitt’s tenure with the band coincided with its biggest success. His vocals are featured on all four of their Grammy Award-winning albums, “Beyond Belief” (1990), “Unseen Power (1992), “Wake-Up Call” (1994) and “Double Take” (2000).

Today, Schlitt continues to tour the country and the world, appearing as both a solo artist, and in reunion shows in support of Petra’s 40th anniversary.

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John Schlitt

Born: Feb. 3, 1950

Claim to fame: Lead singer of Head East and Grammy Award-winning Christian rock band Petra

Little-known fact: According to Schlitt’s website, he was battling substance abuse and considering suicide following his departure from Head East before his wife Dorla helped lead him to Jesus.